Federer’s apparent decline is due, in part, to his opponents growing wiser to his game and vastly improving their own styles and fitness to levels that would allow them to challenge Federer. Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic also have the added bonus of youth. This aside, Federer has evidently lost his own sense of invincibility. An illness over the opening months (Federer was diagnosed with mononucleosis in January) of 2008 resulted in a muted Federer, who appeared to never enjoy his tennis and became easily and therefore uncharacteristically frustrated over the course of a match. This was most apparent after the shock loss to Murray in Dubai. Before the tournament, the Swiss proclaimed himself ‘refreshed and relaxed’ at the Laureus Sports Awards in February. After being comprehensively beaten by the Scot – Murray never faced a break point in his 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory – Federer resorted to criticizing the Scot’s style.

While it may be that Murray simply waits for his opponents’ mistakes, it was unprofessional and thus unlike Federer to make such observations publicly. Something clearly isn’t right in the Federer mentality despite some recent words of defiance after yet another exhibition match against Pete Sampras: “Honestly, losses like this motivate me more than anything…trying to come back, trying to prove I’m still the one to beat, I just want to prove I can do it all over again.” Only a fool would bet against Federer doing well at the next big tournaments, but it has been a long time since he has been in the position of having to prove himself as the world’s best.

Other players have experienced some welcome returns to form. The most satisfying came at the aforementioned Dubai event, where Andy Roddick triumphed after beating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a week that saw the American play his best tennis since 2003. On the women’s side, former top ten regular Elena Dementieva lifted the trophy the week before. The Russian had been searching for her form after injury and loss of confidence, but after comeback wins against Ana Ivanovic and Francesca Schiavone, who herself enjoyed an excellent win over Justine Henin, Dementieva played herself into blistering form to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final. Henin, like Federer, has had a slow start to 2008, but for less clear reasons. She will surely be targeting the big two in the coming weeks to stamp her authority on the year.

Last week’s display in Marseille was typical of the Scot. He had some gritty, and at times awkward, wins (e.g.., over Stanislas Wawrinka and Nicolas Mahut ) and some dominant displays (Jesse Huta Galung and a recovering Mario Ancic in the final). Of course his triumph was aided by the early exits of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the disappointing Richard Gasquet, and tennis’s new darling Novak Djokovic. However, such luck is commonplace in today’s game, and Murray’s second title of the year indicated a prosperous 2008 was to come.

Fresh off his return to the top ten and surely brimming with confidence, Murray then joined Marcos Baghdatis in exiting the first round of Rotterdam. This time he lost tamely to local wildcard Robin Hasse. Murray insisted fatigue was not a factor: “I wasn’t tired physically or mentally, I felt decent,” but even after beefing up somewhat since his gangly early years, Murray still has a lot of room to improve his physical condition, which would help his stamina.

Instead, Britain’s number one used a rather tired excuse that the court and balls were different and hard to get used to. Frankly, this excuse never really holds much weight. These players are professionals and the time they get to practice on such courts should surely eradicate any issues they have with the different surfaces from week to week.

Perhaps his dismissive view of the loss coupled with his recent title win suggests that priorities lie predominantly with the more glamorous, and rewarding, trio of upcoming tournaments: “This is just one of those matches you can afford in tournaments like this…now I will have some days off before I start preparing for Dubai and the Indian Wells and Miami stretch. It still has been a good start of the year.”

The above comment shows a still-young attitude towards the game that may well change as he matures. Either way, with two tournament wins and a return to the top ten, it has indeed been a fine start to Murray’s third full year on the ATP circuit.

The joy soon turned to a knowing dread that all the hard work would ultimately be in vain against a squad boasting one of the most formidable and compatible Cup teams.

Nalbandian, Canas, Chela and Monaco all ranked within the top 25 and all except Nalbandian clay court specialists the surface on which the tie would be played.

Of course, since then the Argentines have also been weakened after the injury/loss of form of Canas, Chela and most recently Monaco who sustained an ankle injury last week in the Movistar Open in Chile.

The revised South American squad now includes lower ranked players like Agusten Calleri (41), Jose Acasuso (50) and 31-ranked doubles player Sebastian Prieto.

As flimsy as this may be against any other team, the GB outfit, without the services of main talisman Andy Murray is now the least impressive set of players in the group. Yes doubles maestro and disgruntled sibling Jamie Murray will prove invaluable but it is Alex Bogdanovic who is ranked the highest of the UK’s competitors. At 188 in the world Bogdanovic rests below no less than 19 Argentine players.

Jamie Baker and Davis Cup debutant Ross Hutchins will play some superb tennis despite being undoubtedly awed by the occasion and stature of their opponents, but the result is a foregone conclusion.

Once again the lack of commitment to an increasingly unimportant tournament and indeed the struggling state of British tennis when compared to every other nation in the world will be agonisingly exposed.

A first round bye - never an advantage for Hantuchova who tends more often than not to play herself into form during a tournament, was followed by a second round match up with Katarina Srebotnik a wily and consistent player who has never beaten Hantuchova in their previous six meetings. A fine first set from both players was followed by a 6-1 drubbing by the Slovenian Srebotnik. Hantuchova’s game had deserted her and all of the mental frailties and clueless shot-making which has dirtied her game for the past few years reared its head once more. Daniela regained her composure and her winners, to seal the third but it was a tough game.

Agnes Szavay yet another ‘wonderkid’ this time from Hungary is a difficult player as Hantuchova herself, Jelena Jankovic and Nadia Petrova all found out last year  but her form has been indifferent in 2008 so far. Another huge lead was blown by Hantuchova in the first set (points for 5-1) and after losing the tiebreak it was a repeat of the Srebotnik second set drubbing 6-1.

Is the Slovak a little complacent now after cementing herself solidly in the worlds top 10? Perhaps, and if that is the case then the hope will be that over the years she has matured enough to conquer such feelings which no doubt contributed to her downfall in 2003 when she was at a similarly lofty ranking.

The joy soon turned to a knowing dread that all the hard work would ultimately be in vain against a squad boasting one of the most formidable and compatible Cup teams.

Nalbandian, Canas, Chela and Monaco all ranked within the top 25 and all except Nalbandian clay court specialists the surface on which the tie would be played.

Of course, since then the Argentines have also been weakened after the injury/loss of form of Canas, Chela and most recently Monaco who sustained an ankle injury last week in the Movistar Open in Chile.

The revised South American squad now includes lower ranked players like Agusten Calleri (41), Jose Acasuso (50) and 31-ranked doubles player Sebastian Prieto.

As flimsy as this may be against any other team, the GB outfit, without the services of main talisman Andy Murray is now the least impressive set of players in the group. Yes doubles maestro and disgruntled sibling Jamie Murray will prove invaluable but it is Alex Bogdanovic who is ranked the highest of the UK’s competitors. At 188 in the world Bogdanovic rests below no less than 19 Argentine players.

Jamie Baker and Davis Cup debutant Ross Hutchins will play some superb tennis despite being undoubtedly awed by the occasion and stature of their opponents, but the result is a foregone conclusion.

Once again the lack of commitment to an increasingly unimportant tournament and indeed the struggling state of British tennis when compared to every other nation in the world will be agonisingly exposed.

This weekend sees the opening round of the Federation Cup and unfortunately for the tournament, the weakest field of players in years. In newly crowned Australian Open Champion Maria Sharapova there is a controversial but much needed top ten player to liven up the competitions’ star-starved first round fixtures.

Defending champions Russia travel to Israel in what is the standout battle of the four ties. Israel are flying high on confidence after winning their last ten ties and are hardly a team of minnows with the likes of Shahar Peer. Nevertheless it is unlikely that the World Group debutants will cause much of an upset against a team boasting the talents of four top 100 players. Whether fellow top ten player Anna Chakvetadze (who was somewhat less than complimentary of teammate and semi-compatriot Sharapova), world number 16 Dinara Safina or Elena Vesnina (number 53) will play in complete harmony and to the very best of their ability will be an interesting notion. Barring a complete and utter breakdown of relations however, there is no other winner than Russia here.

In the other ties it is the lack of big names that is causing a stir. USA who host Germany will be without the firepower of either Williams sibling. The Americans, who have won a record 17 titles in the past - but none since 2000 - do still have strength. Comeback mum Lindsay Davenport, despite looking rusty against Sharapova in Australia is still the best player on show, she is joined by veteran Lisa Raymond and two competition debutants in Laura Granville and Ashley Harkleroad. The Germans are also sporting newcomers in an inexperienced squad. Anna-Lena Groenefeld is both their best and most seasoned campaigner. If she is playing to her best and Davenport - the heart of the home side - falters then a much closer contest will be in store.

China are the favourites in their home tie against a much-weakened French side. The 1997 and 2003 champions are without their top three players Marion Bartoli, Tatiana Golovin and Amelie Mauresmo. Whether an in-form Virginie Razzano can carry the team to victory over a Chinese side which includes the dangerous world number 32 Li Na and two time Grand Slam doubles champions Yan Zi and Zheng Jie is questionable.

Lastly, 2006 champions and last year’s finalists Italy will play host to five times winners Spain. The visitors have a proud cup history bit have not reached a final since their 2002 loss to Slovakia and will be under-nourished with only Annabell Media Garrigues representing top 30 talent. The Italians have the ever-consistent Francesca Schiavone and Tathiana Garbin plus the talented Flavia Pennetta. If the Italians continue their good Fed Cup form then this will be their match.

Well, after a fortnight of some superb tennis in the women’s game and a fair slice of drama we have reached the final stage.Early predictions, despite her indifferent early form at the start of the year saw world number one Justine Henin as favourite to at least reach the last hurdle here, the tournaments form player put that to rest. Maria Sharapova has produced a ruthless standard of tennis over the last fortnight and is clearly back to her devastating best after a year niggled by injury for the most part. Fitter, stronger and with an improved, much more varied gameplan. The technique has been sharpened up and the Russian now stays in longer rallies with ease and as a result of her extra strength usually wins most.
Her place in the final is no surprise. Her opponent from the other half was never as predetermined. Venus was probably the safest bet, but Svetlana Kuznetsova has always been capable of turning on the heat at the biggest stages, regardless of her in-going form. However it is no surprise either that tomorrows other finalist is Ana Ivanovic. The Serbs have attacked Australia with real force and - with the exception of the aforementioned Russian and a certain Frenchman - have  become the stars of this 2008 tournament.

The 20 year old from Belgrade may display the odd bit of youthful over-excitement at key points in matches, and this has cost her in the past. In her last dramatic steal in the semi-finals she often played with fire at critical moments (going for a forehand winner down the line at deuce 2-3 in the third), but owing as much to her opponents renowned tendency to crumble as her ability to grind out results against anyone has seen her through to her second Slam final.

What is so impressive about Ivanovic is her weight of shot matched with some sublime defensive play.

It is an interesting final to predict, yes Sharapova’s form has been even greater than her normal high level, and one cannot forget Ivanovic’s utter capitulation in the final of the French last year - yet another disappointing finish to the women’s competition at Roland Garros. But even after just eight months it is a different Ivanovic. Much wiser in just a short space of time and enjoying a greater level of support both compared to the Justine-heavy Parisian crowds and probably more than her opponent tomorrow.

But however great the support will be for such an idolised player like Sharapova, it will be nothing to the volume of pro-Serbian followers - as fellow beauty Hantuchova found out all to well.

Who will triumph? The two are equal in head to head meetings with their last encounter at the quarter final stage of the season ending championships seeing Sharapova crush the Serb 6-2, 6-1, but the result that will always give Ivanovic hope is that semi final trouncing of the former number one with an identical scoreline.

I fancy Sharapova, purely because her level of play has reached another level, at least during the tournament. Sharapova’s one dimensional game will mean that players like Justine and Ivanovic will beat her at least once by the years end, but not quite yet.

It is fitting that after so much drama in this year’s Australian Open that their should be a surprise line-up for the final stage of the men’s competition. The familiar sight of seeing the two best players in the world (yes, still and by quite a margin) Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is to be replaced by two other men for the first time since a resurgent Marat Safin denied Lleyton Hewitt a fairytale home Slam in the Australian Open centenary year. For three years the game’s giant duo have featured in a Slam final.

Sunday will see either unseeded revelatory Frenchman Jo Wilfred Tsonga or 3rd see ‘joker’ and of three Serbians to contest a final in the next few days Novak Djokovic still only 20 years old.

Nadal hasn’t really been playing at his most impressive since Wimbledon last year, having made a handful of finals and semi-finals in Tier I and II tournaments. He may be struggling with a foot injury which seemed to rear its head during the recent winter off-season and has lost in recent matches to lesser players and by heavy scores (Ferrer 6-3, 6-4 in Shanghai and Youzhny 6-0, 6-1 in the Chennai final).

His form in the open was solid rather than revolutionary. Tsonga however has been a true bolt from the blue. True, the Frenchman hasn’t come from nowhere, he was second only to Marcos Bagdhatis in the junior rankings in 2003. Two years of injury forced the man from Le Mans to make just four Grand Slam appearances until now. He has beaten world class players (Hewitt, Henman, Moya and Ancic) and in this tournament alone he has competently outplayed Andy Murray, Richard Gasquet and Youzhny.

The match against Nadal was an example of simply unplayable tennis. A series of searing ground strokes, booming serves, confident volleys and incredibly powerful smashes left the games’ most dogged fighter with no answer. It was a performance that was Sampras-esque in its style and relentlessness.

Djokovic who has played close to his best tennis consistency all fortnight was always going to prove too much against a Federer who in stark contrast, has not come close to finding his best form so far in 2008. Some early routs were deceiving as Jankko Tipsarevic proved in the third round, a match which went all the way and was won by Federer due to a step up of his game but his opponents slight fatigue. Djokovic had beaten Federer before that semi final and had significant chances in the final of the US Open - with breaks in each of the three sets. The Serb, like his fellow countrywoman Ivanovic at Roland Garros the same year, soon gave away these chances as the majesty of the occasion and the aura of the opponent crept in.

Federer was a shadow of his inspiring best; not once did he serve consistently enough to use it as a weapon and he seemed almost determined to throw in at least one out of character and often rank unforced error into almost every game. Unlike at Flushing Meadows Novak took the many chances and stayed calm and collected to take the match in three. The experts in varying degrees have denounced Federer’s greatness after this loss with some saying that it is the ‘beginning of the end’. Others, much more reasonably have merely suggested that we have now seen the last of the kind of ‘three Slams a year’ dominance that Federer has so emphatically displayed in the last three to four years.

I disagree with both theories. All it will take is one French Open title and three other majors - in a realistic time period of five years - for the man to become the unarguably best player that has ever graced the sport. He will do this and he will do it in a now much tougher ‘era’ thanks to players like Nadal, Djokovic and Tsonga to name but three.

The final itself would seem at first like a foregone conclusion; the Serb to take it in three or four as Tsonga will be the less experienced at such a level. But the 22 year old has shown a mental toughness that suggests this will be a closer fight. I expect him to remain intense and focused and just as he did against Murray and co throughout the tournament surprise his opponent so much that Djokovic will have to go the distance to triumph.

Defending champions Russia travel to Israel in what is the standout battle of the four ties. Israel are flying high on confidence after winning their last ten ties and are hardly a team of minnows with the likes of Shahar Peer. Nevertheless it is unlikely that the World Group debutants will cause much of an upset against a team boasting the talents of four top 100 players. Whether fellow top ten player Anna Chakvetadze (who was somewhat less than complimentary of teammate and semi-compatriot Sharapova), world number 16 Dinara Safina or Elena Vesnina (number 53) will play in complete harmony and to the very best of their ability will be an interesting notion. Barring a complete and utter breakdown of relations however, there is no other winner than Russia here.

In the other ties it is the lack of big names that is causing a stir. USA who host Germany will be without the firepower of either Williams sibling. The Americans, who have won a record 17 titles in the past - but none since 2000 - do still have strength. Comeback mum Lindsay Davenport, despite looking rusty against Sharapova in Australia is still the best player on show, she is joined by veteran Lisa Raymond and two competition debutants in Laura Granville and Ashley Harkleroad. The Germans are also sporting newcomers in an inexperienced squad. Anna-Lena Groenefeld is both their best and most seasoned campaigner. If she is playing to her best and Davenport - the heart of the home side - falters then a much closer contest will be in store.

China are the favourites in their home tie against a much-weakened French side. The 1997 and 2003 champions are without their top three players Marion Bartoli, Tatiana Golovin and Amelie Mauresmo. Whether an in-form Virginie Razzano can carry the team to victory over a Chinese side which includes the dangerous world number 32 Li Na and two time Grand Slam doubles champions Yan Zi and Zheng Jie is questionable.

Lastly, 2006 champions and last year’s finalists Italy will play host to five times winners Spain. The visitors have a proud cup history bit have not reached a final since their 2002 loss to Slovakia and will be under-nourished with only Annabell Media Garrigues representing top 30 talent. The Italians have the ever-consistent Francesca Schiavone and Tathiana Garbin plus the talented Flavia Pennetta. If the Italians continue their good Fed Cup form then this will be their match.

Rarely missing a first serve, and spilling winners from every area of the court Hantuchova had lost none of the consistency and composure that saw her through the round previous. Surprisingly it was her younger but more - at this level - experienced opponent who was frozen with nerves and awestruck at her opponents play in equal measure.

Then, a set and a break down and surely on the way out, the Serb showed why she is knocking the loudest on Justine’s door. Ivanovic started to make some winners and relaxed just enough to send a vital message to Hantuchova that this wasn’t going to be whitewash.

Unlike Radwanska who never seemed consistently solid, Ivanovic’s recovery shocked the Slovak; not into rushing or playing badly, but (as expected) perhaps making her realise just what she had achieved - a few games away from destroying a player who many thought would beat her easily.

Mistakes crept in, and Ivanovic - buoyed on by a far greater level of support - took the second set after a Daniela-of-old double fault in the eighth game gifted the Serb a break to lead 5-3.

The final set, just shy of an hour was an incredibly tense affair which often sparkled with some magical tennis from both women. Ivanovic simply played solid tennis throughout, no real wobbles or drops in confidence, only infrequent over-excited shot-choices. It was Hantuchova who would decide proceedings; would she continue to play aggressive and therefore be too much for an opponent playing at about 85% or would she play too conservative and risk the occasion getting to her.

Both players challenged regularly and unsuccessfully in the third, with Hantuchova in particular making some uncharacteristically poor objections. Two crucial games ultimately decided the match; a long sixth game with Ivanovic serving at 2-3, break points were saved, chances for a Hantuchova 4-2 lead came and went. At 4-4, Hantuchova finally collapsed and handed the break after a double fault made life hard at 0-30 only to claw back to 30-40 before dumping a slightly simple half-volley into the net.

Hantuchova was increasingly riled by her opponents Sharapova-esque (staring straight at her opponent) screams of jubilation after every point, and in her post match interview she expressed disgust over an apparent Ivanovic tactic of squeaking her shoes before receiving.

“Yeah, that’s ridiculous, I think. I was really surprised with that. I think it’s unfair. It’s a distraction to the server. Yeah, we played before and she never did it”. Not one to make such excuses usually, the squeaks were noticeable but over time the Slovak will learn to block out such things at a crucial stage in a Grand Slam.

The loss was expected but the manner in which Daniela threw it away will hurt, it has been a good tournament too - yes she had been lucky with the draw - Safarova, Chakvetadze and Kuznetsova all avoided - but this will be a fine year for Hantuchova who will rise to at least number seven in the World rankings.